Standing on the deck of the Prometheus, even though the ship had been sailing for several days now, Hancock still couldn't tain her excitement and anticipation.
Amazon Lily, located in the Calm Belt, had powerful warriors, but the nation's resources were limited, making it difficult to build many ships. Even though Hancod her sisters were members of the royal family, they had never ventured out to sea.
On Amazon Lily, only the most powerful warriors could join the Kuja Pirates and sail uhe and of the Empress. While Hancod her sisters were undeniably talehey still needed more time to grow into such powerful figures.
The reasohree sisters had been captured by svers and ended up as sves was due to their intense curiosity about the outside world. They ofteured to the coast, waviedly whehey spotted a ship brave enough to traverse the Calm Belt.
Irospect, who would dare cross the Calm Belt without reason? Only those with signifit power or individuals fearless enough to risk their lives on dangerous ventures like the sve trade. It was during one of those risky moments that Hancod her sisters entered a sver crew, sealing their fate as captives and taking them to the cruel world of Mariejois.
While they teically did sail on that dark journey, it was nothing like now. They were trapped in a dank, suffog cell below deck, ed by fear and darkness. The splendor and adventure of the sea were repced by dread. From there, their world only worsened as they found themselves in the hellish ditions of svery. It was only by some miracle that the three sisters survived.
Everything ged when Cudius appeared. His intervention turheir bleak fate upside down.
"Lenny and Mero were right; he really is different," Hancock thought as she g the o where Lenny and Mero, the mermaid sisters, were frolig without a care.
The two mermaids wore no colrs, nor were they restricted in any way. They could leap into the sea and vanish to freedom at any time, yet they stayed close, pying by the ship. When they were tired of swimming, they would climb back aboard a, enjoy some refreshments, or lounge in the rge pool on the deck.
They weren't treated like sves at all. It seemed more like they were guests aboard this luxury ship, free to enjoy themselves.
Hancock realized that her situation wasn't so different. Other than being uo swim due to her Devil Fruit powers, she and her sisters were free to roam the ship, just as they had bae. Cudius eveiohey were bound for the desert nation of Abasta, and it didn't seem like he po fihem to the ship. That meant she and her sisters could set foot on Abasta and experiehe desert for the first time.
"If we're allowed to wander Abasta freely, maybe there will be an opportunity to take Mary and Sonia and escape," Hancock sidered.
But her expression shifted as she muttered, "No, it's too dangerous. Staying with Cudius is safer. If we escape a caught again, what then?"
Cudius had mentiohat soon they would receive training to bee stronger. Hancoew he was referring to Haki training. On Amazon Lily, all warriors possessed Haki, but she and her sisters had rained seriously. Now that they uood the harsh reality of the world, they figured it was wise to take advantage of Cudius' resources. He was willing to train them, so why not use this ce to bee stronger?
"Once we're stronger, we'll find a better opportunity to leave," Hancock thought, not realizing she was once again promising with her situation.
Hancod her sisters weren't the only ones enjoying the deck. Stel was standing beside Nia keenly learning the art of servid refining her skills.
Meanwhile, Tesoro was being drilled by three elderly schors on eics, finance, and the intricacies of wealth ma. It was exhausting, but the thought of creating a better life for himself and Stel fueled him. He absorbed every piece of wisdom from the old men with unwavering focus.
"The more I learn now, the more valuable I'll bee to His Highness. If I prove my worth, Stel's future will be secure and happy," Tesoro thought, encing himself to push through.
Ohird floor of the ship, in the expansive library, Cudius sat with a thick history book on Abasta. Little Robin, who had been aboard the Prometheus for weeks, hadn't stepped foot off the ship. In fact, she'd taken it upon herself tanize and categorize the entire library during her free time.
At this moment, Robin sat oeps, leaning against the railing with a book in her hands and a cup of warm milk by her side. It was clear that she was tent with this routine.
From where he sat, Cudius could see the two you members, Ad Koa, p over a picture book. He'd left most of the other children at home this time, not wanting the ship to be overcrowded. Teachers had been arrao take care of them and oversee their studies.
But Koa was an exception. She was always a little different.
"Robin..." Cudius called out, breaking the quiet atmosphere.
Robin, who had been casually Ad Koa, looked up, surprised. Her rge eyes met Cudius' with a hint of curiosity.
"Would you like to join us on our visit to Abasta?" Cudius asked with a smile.
Robin didn't hesitate. She shook her head and replied, "No, I'm not ied."
Cudius chuckled. "You'll end up as a recluse like this," he teased.
"What's a recluse?" Robin's brows furrowed slightly as she questioned.
"Ah, nothing good, that's for sure. As the saying goes, 'Reading a thousand books is only half the journey; walking a thousand miles pletes it.' Books alone won't teach you everything, Robin. Sometimes, you o see the world to truly uand it. So, why don't you e with me to Abasta? It's the oldest known human kingdom. I'm sure it's ri culture and history," Cudius said, his tone persuasive.
Robin's eyes softehe idea of Abasta did hold some allure. A kingdom with over four thousand years of history, what historian could resist su opportunity?
"Who knows, maybe you'll even find a ruins," Cudius added entigly.
That was all it took. Robin couldn't hide her intrigue any longer. She nodded in agreement.
"Hahahaha, that's the spirit," Cudius said with a ugh.
***
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